You can find red- or green-leafed cultivars that grow in many different shapes and sizes. Japanese maples have more decorative leaves and are smaller than other varieties. There are many cultivars to choose from with some reaching 25’ tall and others staying shrub-sized. They are a much showier tree with finely serrated foliage and can be grown in the ground or in containers. Japanese maples are in a class all of their own. They make perfect specimen trees and are also smaller, reaching only 25’ in height. Paperbark maples are very unique because they develop bark that peels away from the trunk and is a beautiful coppery color underneath. These trees are so hardy that they’re considered invasive in certain areas, so check before you buy. They have a majestic look and grow up to 50’ tall. Norway maples are very hardy and can withstand poor growing conditions better than other maples. and are known for their stunning red leaves in the fall. Red maples are native to parts of the eastern U.S. These trees need a large space to grow in, make wonderful shade trees, and can eventually give you maple syrup. Sugar maples are likely the most iconic and can grow up to 120’ tall and 50’ wide. Though there are over a hundred kinds of maple, here are some of the most popular choices: You’ll want to consider different factors like how large of a tree you want, what shape you want the leaves to be, and what varieties are available in your region. Varieties of Maple Treesīefore getting into how to plant a maple tree, the first step is to pick the variety you want. Once your maple seeds have germinated, water them as needed and place them in a sunny location until you’re ready to plant. Once they turn brown and start falling off, the seeds are mature and can be collected for planting. “Helicopters” are the most familiar maple seed to many. When it’s time for them to sprout, put them in a warm area until they germinate. If you need to do cold stratification, put the pots into the refrigerator for 2-4 months. Place all of the pots into plastic bags to keep the moisture at a good level. To start the seeds, prepare small pots with a moistened growing medium like peat moss or a seed starter mix. Look up the variety you’re planting to find out for sure. Most seeds can be started right away but some will need cold stratification first to mimic the winter season. These seeds will be mature and ready to plant in the fall. The most familiar type of maple seed is the “helicopters” children love to play with. Maple seeds will be ready anytime from spring to fall depending on the variety. All you need to do is collect the seeds from the trees you want to grow. Growing maple trees from seed will take even longer than by cuttings, but it can be done. Once they are rooted, remove the plastic and keep them in a sunny spot until planting time. Keep them in a warm spot out of direct sunlight with partial shade until they root. Water each potted cutting and place them each in a plastic bag, making sure that you don’t bend the stem at all. Firm the soil with your hands to make sure the cutting won’t fall over. Prepare small pots with a rooting medium that’s been moistened until it just clumps together when you squeeze it with your hand.ĭip the section you just scraped into rooting hormone powder and stick it about 2” down into the soil of the prepared pots. To grow one, you can buy a sapling from your local nursery or try starting your own from a cutting or from seed. Maple trees are known for their colorful fall foliage. Then, use a clean knife to scrape off the bottom 1-2” of bark from the shoot. Using sanitized garden pruners, cut a shoot 4-8” long and remove the leaves from the lower half, keeping at least 2-3 leaves at the top. Try to take a cutting in early to midsummer. These shoots should be green and will grow out of woodier, brown stems. To take a cutting, look for healthy trees that have young and flexible new shoots. If you have existing maple trees on your property and want more of the same, you can take a cutting to grow more trees for free. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, there are two other ways to grow a maple tree. These trees will already be a few years old and will give you the best start for growing your own larger tree. The easiest and fastest way to grow a maple tree is to buy a good quality sapling from your local nursery or garden center. Optional: Stake and Protect Your Sapling.
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